Relations between mucosal immunity and children's mental health: The role of child sex

This study examines relations between children's salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and mental health. Child sex was considered as a moderator of relations. Data were from 329 normally developing children (M age = 9.85 years; SD = .98 years); 67% of children were European American and 33% were African American. Saliva samples were obtained during the afternoon and assayed for SIgA and IL-6. Parents completed questionnaire measures of child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and children completed self-report measures of anxiety and depression. Structural equation models were fit to the data, and indicated that greater levels of salivary IL-6 and SIgA were associated with adjustment problems more strongly for girls than for boys.

Research Highlights
► Examined salivary IL-6 and SIgA in 329 children (M age = 9.85 years).
► Higher SIgA was linked to mental health problems for girls.
► Higher salivary IL-6 was linked to mental health problems for girls.
► Majority of relations are not due to pubertal development.